Feliz, Ruiz, Madson, Other Phils Updates

Pedro Feliz has been in town for examinations on his lower back by the Phils training staff.

Everything appears to be good so far.

“We’re pleased with his progress,” Ruben Amaro Jr. said. ”He has made good progress.”

Amaro said Feliz probably wouldn’t be ready to play in the team’s first spring training game Feb. 25, but could be ready shortly thereafter.

Ryan Madson changed his number from 63 to 46. The likely cause…Madson was always at the other end of the Phils' clubhouse in Clearwater. The clubhouse at Brighthouse Networks Field arranges its lockers in numerical order. Non-roster invitees get high numbers. Because Madson wore 63, it meant he was situated next to non-roster invitees and minor-leaguers who had little to no chance of making the team. Now he’ll likely be positioned near J.A. Happ (43) and Scott Eyre (47).

Carlos Ruiz has decided to compete for Panama in the World Baseball Classic. This should make the battle between Chris Coste and Ronny Paulino to be his back up a little more interesting because they will be getting more playing time this spring.

Many have said that the job is Paulino’s to lose. I thought the Phillies would have traded Coste by now. I guess it will be a real competition going into the spring. Charlie Manuel has always been fond of Coste, so we’ll see. I put in a request to Charlie to have him do an interview for the site. He hasn’t responded yet so we’ll see what happens. This should be an interesting spring.

This weekend Anthony Gargano, of 610 WIP-AM, will sit down for an interview with me. Stay tuned!